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BJP, Samata Party call for early poll

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samata Party today called for an early election to the Lok Sabha, preferably in June.

"It is always in the interests of the country to have an elected government. It can be more responsive and more responsible," BJP spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu said.

He said that though it is the Election Commission's prerogative to decide when elections should be held, "we are of the view that it should be held at the earliest, preferably in June, when schools have vacations".

Moreover, he said, the weather in June is also better than in August-September when many parts of the country witness heavy rains and floods.

Denying that the BJP wants early elections to take advantage of the people's sympathy, he said the party is making the demand in the interests of the people, the country and democracy.

Echoing the arguments, a Samata Party delegation that called on Chief Election Commissioner Manohar Singh Gill at his residence in New Delhi urged him to hold the election latest by June end.

The delegation led by Defence Minister and party chief George Fernandes said it would be improper to hold elections in September as floods and cyclones affect many parts of the country at that time.

Besides, the country should not have a caretaker government for long as important decisions will be held up and development work will virtually come to a halt.

The defence minister said the CEC gave the delegation a patient and attentive hearing.

After meeting President K R Narayanan in the wake of the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, Gill had said the dates and detailed election schedule would be finalised in consultation with political parties after considering all relevant factors.

He had also mentioned that elections to nine state assemblies are due later this year or early next year and the constitutional obligation of the commission is to complete the process within six months of the last sitting of the Lok Sabha on April 22.

By that logic the election process can be completed by October 21.

But BJP spokesman Naidu said the revision of electoral rolls is a continuous process and should not be taken as an excuse to delay the election.

Regarding Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Kumaramangalam's meeting with Gill today, Naidu said the BJP politician had gone in his personal capacity. UNI

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